Issued by: SA Communication Service
Tuesday 9 July 1995
On Wednesday evening, 10 May 1995, 104 mine workers were killed at the bottom of the 2 200 metre Number 2 shaft of the Vaal Reefs Gold mine. A locomotive with a personnel carriage together weighing 9,7 tons crashed into the shaft at the 56th level station 1 700 metres down. Seconds alter it hit the roof of the cage containing the mine workers, causing it to plummet to the bottom of the shaft.
Two enquiries followed: a combined Inquest/Enquiry, under the Minerals and Inquest Acts, and a Commission of Enquiry:
Both enquiries were chaired by Judge R N Leon. On Saturday 22 June 1996, Judge Leon officially presented the Report of the Commission of Enquiry to then Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Mr R F Botha. The Report of the Commission of Enquiry was subsequently handed to the President, who considered the Report and has authorised its release to the public and the media.
The Commission accepted submissions from the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, and employer and employee organisations. Fifteen witnesses were called and 18 submissions presented. There are 60 recommendations in all, covering the following:
Shortly after the Vaal Reefs accident, the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs began redrafting regulations dealing with this type of accident. These will be presented to the Mine Regulation Advisory Committee (MRAC) once the Vaal Reef Commission's recommen- dations have been taken into account. The question of haulage and transport accidents is being dealt with by a SIMRAC research project. The Department is awaiting a final report in this regard which is due to be completed shortly.
The recommendations concerning the Leon Commission into Mine Health and Safety, which reported last year, deal with the restruc- turing and remuneration of the Mine Inspectorate (previously the State Mining Engineer's Section). The original Leon Commission said:
"Existing remuneration packages are inadequate to attract candidates of the right quality and calibre in adequate numbers. The Commission recommends that to ensure that suitable staff can be appointed ... the Inspectorate's remuneration packages ... be related to remuneration in the industry."
The Leon Commission proceeded to lay down specific comparative guidelines for the various grades in the Inspectorate with reference to a typical mine manager's renumeration package. On 28 June 1995, Cabinet approved the Leon Commission recommendations. On 7 February 1996, Cabinet approved the allocation of an additional R29,8 million to the budget of the Departments of Mineral and Energy Affairs for the implementation of those recommendations, including the remuneration packages of Inspectors.
On pages 12 to 18 of its Report, the Vaal Reefs Commission now released says:
"Although the recommendations of the Leon Commission were approved by the Cabinet, including the allocation of a specific sum of money ... (the improvement of the Inspectorate's salary structure) has not occurred, as the decision appears to have been frustrated by the Public Service Commission."
And again: "This Commission views the present situation with considerable concern and strongly recommends that urgent attention by given by the CABINET in order to ensure that the recommendations of the Leon Commission, regarding the Government Mining Engineer's Department, be effected without delay."
The Vaal Reefs Commission also felt that certain other matters required further investigation. It recommended that the tripartite committees (consisting of business, labour and government) named above and established in terms of the new Mine Health and Safety Act No 29 of 1996, be instructed to deal with these issues, some 39 in all.
Finally, three general recommendations cover safety devices in the shaft station area, technical committees to draw up standards for underground battery locomotive controllers and steps to be taken by manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that equipment does not pose a safety or health risk.
Copies of the Vaal Reefs Commission Report may be obtained from Monja Erasmus, Communication Officer, Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Pretoria, Phone (012) 317 9091.
Enquiries: Roland Darroll Phone: (o) (012) 322 8695; (h) (012) 43 3394; (cellular) 082 55 27994